Massachusetts Online Gambling

Yes, at least in some capacity. Online sports gambling is legal in Massachusetts. The industry launched in early 2023. Residents can also participate in daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests online. However, other forms of online gambling such as online casinos, online poker, and an online lottery remain illegal activities in Massachusetts. 

You need to be 21 years of age or older in order to participate in most gambling activities in Massachusetts. You must be 21 to play at Massachusetts casinos, and sports betting requires players to be this age or older as well. The only exceptions are the state lottery and horse betting, which require players to be 18 or older.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) oversees all gambling activity in the state. This includes MA sports gambling. Mass Gaming regulates every bit of gambling in the state and will do so for any future gambling expansions that may make their way to the Massachusetts market.

If gambling is a problem for you, there are multiple resources available to you around the clock in Massachusetts. Every minute you spend in recovery is a minute you didn’t lose gambling.

Responsible gambling services in Massachusetts begin with the Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPG), a division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The OPG provides crisis services to problem gamblers and training assistance for those who care for problem gamblers. If you want to explore options for problem gambling treatment, you can contact the OPG at the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at (800) 327-5050. You can also reach out through the live chat function on the helpline website. Alternatively, you can reach out to the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, which maintains its own helpline at (800) 426-1234 and a live chat function on its website.

Massachusetts also maintains a voluntary self-exclusion list for bettors. The state-run program bars you from patronizing any gambling locations inside Massachusetts. Placing yourself on the list will render you unable to play at these venues and subject to various forfeitures if you are caught doing so. Your time on the list can range from six months to the rest of your life. You can also use self-exclusion on all MA mobile betting apps.

Another great resource is the MGM GameSense page, which offers state-specific information. The site aims to “keep gambling fun with tips and information for casino guests.” MGM Springfield in Massachusetts promotes responsible gambling as well, offering problem gambling help both in-house and on their official website.

Massachusetts is home to two Native American tribes that qualify as federally recognized entities:

• Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
• Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

So far, only the Mashpees have moved to secure a compact with the folks in Boston. The tribe received federal recognition in 2007, and moved quickly to declare 321 acres near Taunton as its reservation lands. Of the 321 acres in the trust, 151 were approved for gambling use. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe broke ground on the First Light Resort and Casino in April 2016, and the stage was set for the fourth Massachusetts casino. However, nearly seven years later, no more progress has been made on the casino’s construction. A legal battle has been brewing for several years, and it remains to be seen when First Light Resort and Casino will open. If the legal challenges continue long enough, the DOI policy could change again depending on who is sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has not been as dogged in its pursuit of an agreement with the state. Instead, it has moved to create a bingo facility on tribal lands. Of course, the government sued this tribe, too — this time, it was the city government of Aquinnah — claiming that a 1983 land agreement nullified the tribe’s ability to offer gambling. After some arguing in court, the tribe prevailed in 2018 and began moving forward with its plans. However, the town remained undeterred and has kept the project tied up in court ever since with any issues that it could find. It now appears that the tribe will be able to build the venue, albeit with some approvals from the powers that be.

If you want or need more information about online gambling in Massachusetts, there are plenty of resources available. For additional information, you can visit any of the links below to find out more:

• Massachusetts Gaming Commission
• Massachusetts Legislature
• The Boston Globe
• The Boston Herald
• MGM GameSense

The state’s legal gambling locations are the following:

• Encore Boston Harbor (Class III)
• MGM Springfield (Class III)
• Plainridge Park Casino (Class II)
• Raynham Park (Off-track betting)
• Suffolk Downs (Off-track betting)